Rail-joint



(No Model.)

15'. P. HOEFPLE.

RAIL JOINT.

Patented Dec. 30

,1 8 E V//// Y\\\\\ L c m T N E V N A WORNEYS UNITED STATES ATENTOFFICE...

FRANK F. I'IOEFFL'E, OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI.

RAlL-JOINT.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,965, datedDecember 30, 1890.

Application filed July 5, 1890. Serial No. 357,773. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK F. HOEFFLE, of Meridian, in the county ofLauderdale and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and ImprovedRail-Joint, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to improvements in rail-joints; and the object ofmy invention is to produce a simple and substantial joint and to obviatethe use of bolts, nuts, and nut-locks.

To this end my invention consists in a metal plate or box havingupwardly extending flanges between which a rail may rest, grippingdevices secured between the said flanges and adapted to clasp the rail,and a wedge pointing upwardly and located between one of the flanges anda gripping device, so as to hold the same firmly against the rail, ashereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of the device an bodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section on the line a: 00 of Fig. 1, showing the abuttingrails and one of the grips in side elevation. Fig.3 is a transversesection on the line y y of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a broken detail perspectiveView of one of the grips. Fig. 5 is a broken plan view of the main boxwith the rails and grips removed. Fig. 6 is a transverse section showingthe form of grips used in connection with the rail having the ordinaryfish-plates, and Fig. 7 is a broken detail view of a modified form ofgrip.

The rectangular box A is adapted to rest upon the railroad-tics, and hasin its outer edges suitable notches a to enable it to be easily spikedto the ties. The box A is provided with a central recess A, and withupwardly-extending flanges A located on opposite sides thereof, betweenwhich the rails B rest. The boxesA should be wide enough to permit thegrips C to be inserted between the flanges A and the rails B.

The grips C are formed with vertical lips or ribs 0, adapted to pressagainst the sides of the rails, with longitudinally-extending endportions 0 adapted to rest upon the flange B of the rail and to extendbeyond-the recess A of the box A, and with a depending portion C adaptedto fit within the recess A, the said portion having a longitudinal slotCtherein adapted to fit upon the flanges B of the rails B. I

A wedge D is inserted from the bottom between one of the flanges A ofthe box and one of the grips C, so as to force the grip firmly againstthe rails and the rails firmly against the opposite grip, the gripsbeing placed on each side of the rails, as described. It will thus beseen that the weight of the engine and cars passing over the rail-joint,instead of loosening the same, will bind the parts more firmly together,as the base of the wedge is between the lower portions of the grip andthe box.

To apply the device, the box A is spiked to the ties, the grips O areplaced upon the abutting rails B, and the rails and grips are insertedin the box so that the depending portions 0 of the grips will fit withinthe recess A of the box, the wedge D being first inserted in the box soas to come between one of the flanges A and one of the grips O, asdescribed above.

If desired, the extending portions 0 of the grips may be dispensed with,as shown in Fig. 7, so that the grips will rest in the recess A, asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and will not extend beyond theends of the recess. I

hen the device is applied to rails having the usual fish-plates E, gripsc are used, said grips being similar in principle to the grips alreadydescribed, but having a vertical portion 0 and an inwardly-extendingportion 0 thus affording room between the inwardlyextending portion ofthe grip and the base thereof for the rail-flanges and the fish-plates.The grips c are applied in the same manner as the grips G, and theinwardly-extending portions (2 of the grip will press firmly against thefish-plates E, and thus hold the plates and the rails in position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the device iscomposed of very few parts, is very simple in construction, andconsequently very cheap. By using this device it is not necessary tobore holes in the rails, thereby weakening the same and subjecting themto friction on the bolts, nor is it neces sary to use bolts, nuts,nut-locks, or any means of attachment, and, as shown, thelonger thedevice is used the more firmly will'the rails be bound together.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a rail-joint, the combination, withtwo abuttingrails, of a metal box having a central recess therein and having flangesextending upward on each side of the rails, grips fitting within therecess of the box and between the flanges of the box and the sides ofthe rails, said grips having horizontal slots therein to fit therail-flanges,and. a wedge ex- 2. The combinatiomwith two abutting rails,of a box havinga central recess therein and having flanges extendingupward on each side of the rails, grips located between the flanges ofthe box and the rails, said grips having horizontal slots therein to fitthe rail-flanges, depending portions to fit the recess of the box,vertical ribs to fit the side of the rails, and end portionsextendinglongitndinally beyond the recess of the box, and a Wedgeextending point upward between the flange of the box and one of thegrips, substantially as described.

- -FRANK F. HOEFFLE.

Witnesses.

J OE S. WHEELER, R. H. MEADOWS.

